AMD to make x86 and ARM processors pin-compatible

AMD presented its plans for an "ambidextrous computing" future in which the company will leverage both x86 and ARM. The company talked about Project SkyBridge, a design framework that will result in ARM and x86 processors that are pin-compatible.

Both chips are designed from scratch, the Puma+ x86 model is the replacement for the Bulldozer family while "K12" is a new high-performance, low-power ARM Cortex-A57 based core. Project SkyBridge is expected to arrive starting 2015 with K12 to follow in 2016.

AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced a roadmap of near- and mid-term computing solutions that harness the best characteristics of both the x86 and ARM® ecosystems, called “ambidextrous computing.” The cornerstone of this roadmap is the announcement of AMD’s 64-bit ARM architecture license for the development of custom high-performance cores for high-growth markets. Today’s announcement also provides a forward-looking glimpse into AMD’s development plans to deliver truly unmatched ambidextrous computing and graphics performance using a shared, flexible infrastructure to enable its customers to blaze new paths of innovation for the embedded, server and client markets as well as semi-custom solutions.

“Before today, AMD was the only company in the world to deliver high performance and low-power x86 with leadership graphics. AMD now takes a bold step forward and has become the only company that can provide high-performance 64-bit ARM and x86 CPU cores paired with world-class graphics,” said Rory Read, AMD president and CEO. “Our innovative ambidextrous design capability, combined with our portfolio of IP and expertise with high-performance SoCs, means that AMD is set to deliver ambidextrous solutions that enable our customers to change the world in more efficient and powerful ways.”

The market for ARM- and x86-based processors is expected to grow to more than $85 billion by 20171 . AMD is uniquely positioned as the only company delivering differentiated solutions capable of addressing the breadth of this market. This is the first time a major processor provider has created the IP path to allow others to leverage innovation across both ARM and x86 ecosystems.

AMD’s ambidextrous computing roadmap includes:

“Project SkyBridge” – This design framework, available starting in 2015, will feature a new family of 20 nanometer APUs and SoCs that are expected to be the world’s first pin-compatible ARM and x86 processors. The 64-bit ARM variant of “Project SkyBridge” will be based on the ARM Cortex®-A57 core and is AMD’s first Heterogeneous System Architecture (“HSA”) platform for Android; the x86 variant will feature next-generation “Puma+” CPU cores. The “Project SkyBridge” family will feature full SoC integration, AMD Graphics Core Next technology, HSA, and AMD Secure Technology via a dedicated Platform Security Processor (PSP).

“K12” – A new high-performance, low-power ARM-based core that takes deep advantage of AMD’s ARM architectural license, extensive 64-bit design expertise, and a core development team led by Chief CPU Architect? Jim Keller. The first products based on “K12” are planned for introduction in 2016.

“At ARM we are dedicated to working with partners who revolutionize and transform experiences everywhere from sensors to servers," said Simon Segars, CEO at ARM. "AMD's market reach and proven experience in leading industry transitions to 64-bit computing in client and server environments, combined with ARM's low power expertise and server base system architecture (SBSA) standard, will deliver new capabilities and drive innovation across multiple high growth markets."

AMD today also publicly demonstrated for the first time its 64-bit ARM-based AMD Opteron™ A-Series processor, codenamed “Seattle,” running a Linux environment derived from the Fedora Project. The Fedora Project is a Red Hat-sponsored, community-driven Linux distribution, providing a familiar, enterprise class operating environment to developers and IT administrators worldwide. This Fedora Project-based Linux environment enables companies to transition to ARM-based servers without the need to integrate entirely new tools and software platforms to their IT environments. This demonstration represents a significant step forward in expanding the footprint of ultra-efficient 64-bit ARM processers within the data center.